Personally, I have no clue what’s going on with Jude and me. Not all that long ago, we couldn’t stand each other. Now, it seems we’re kissing and touching and falling into bed every chance we get.
There’s a voice in my head that says I should feel bad about that, but to be honest, I don’t. We’re both adults. I’m enjoying him and he seems to be enjoying me. So, what’s there to be ashamed of?
Mercifully, Mrs. Kingston doesn’t interrogate me. Instead, she changes the subject, adopting a light tone. “Y’know what I say about diets?” She looks me up and down as she eats some more snacks. “I say that diets are like apologizing to the world for having curves. You’re all woman and as long as you’re healthy, you don’t have to be sorry for having a little extra junk in the trunk.”
I laugh. “That’s an interesting way to see it.”
She turns and her admiring gaze flits around the room. “Your home is gorgeous, by the way. And the backyard, oh! So lovely.” The woman’s attention fans over my vegetable patch and flower garden.
“Thank you, Mrs. Kingston.”
She moves out onto the back deck and I follow her, hoping to absorb a little bit of her confidence by osmosis.
While the party rages on, I take a few minutes to give her a tour of the garden. She gushes over the flowers and I promise to cut her a fresh bouquet before she leaves.
“This is really impressive, Iris.” She eyes me thoughtfully. “Y’know, Cannon says the florist in town is looking to sell. You should consider putting in an offer.”
I catch a tight feeling in my gut. I won’t lie. I’ve thought about it. Owning that floral shop would be a dream come true. But with the state of my finances, that’s just not feasible right now. “I-I don’t know if that would be the right decision for me.”
My stomach clenches again but this time it’s because of the rumbling sound of Jude’s voice as he strolls over with Callie high up on his shoulders.
“What are you ladies over here gabbing about?” He tickles my ribs and instantly, I blush.
His mother bites back a smile at our blatant flirtation.
He leans over the food table and grabs some bite-sized treats.“Ma, I hope you’re not over here telling the pretty girl all my embarrassing high school stories,” he warns his mother.“You said it yourself—that NSYNC phase I went through was totally normal and natural and it’s nothing I need to be ashamed of.”
“Your secret’s safe with me, Dear.” The woman chuckles softly.
My roomie grins. “You’re the best, Ma.” He flashes a panty-destroying wink my way. He hands a few treats to Callie before popping one into his mouth.
He starts to walk away but when the flavor hits, he doubles-back and grabs a few more.
“What’s an NSYNC?” a giggling Callie asks as she and her uncle bop off across the lawn.
Mrs. Kingston watches after them as they go. “Is he eating cauliflower?!” Her jaw is loose in shock.
I laugh. “I told you about that cauliflower tot recipe, Mrs. Kingston. It’s good stuff.” I may be gloating a little.
She glances at me with an awed expression. “Would you call me Diana already? Any woman who can get my Jude to eat his vegetables is an instant friend.” She pokes me in the ribs like she just did to Lexi.
I fall a little bit in love with Jude’s mom.
Cinderella eventually shows up with a gang of other costumed entertainers who all look a tiny bit sketchy and reek of cigarette smoke. The children go wild. I take the opportunity to refill the snack bowls.
Everyone’s having a good time…
Until Penny and Walker reach their boiling point over at the makeshift bar. I witness it up close and personal as I’m replenishing the salad bar at the neighboring table.
“My god, Walker. Would you lighten up?” My cousin seethes. “I tend bar at the most popular night spot in town. I think I can handle making some fruit punch for a child’s birthday party.”
His big shoulders vibrate on an irritated exhale. “All I’m saying is if you want to make the kids some fruit punch, the least you can do is use some real damn fruits. That powdered shit is loaded with sugar and artificial colorings and all that other crap.” He points accusingly at a jug that Penny is stirring.
My cousin’s response is an exasperated roll of her eyes. “Gosh, you’re so bossy.” She throws her head back.
With a frustrated shrug, Walker shoves his massive hand through his hair. “That’s just my advice, Penn. Take it or leave it. You’re just gonna do what you wanna do anyway.” He turns away from her. “But you know I’m right.”
“Hey, where are you going?” she calls after him. “We can have a disagreement without you walking away, y’know.”
He issues a grunt and strolls off.
Looking supremely pissed, Penny dips her fingers into the jug of condemned fruit punch and flicks it in her best friend’s direction. The frosty red liquid splatters his arm and soaks through the back of his flannel shirt.
Penny cringes, instantly realizing that she may have overreacted. A teensy bit.
This behavior is out of character for my cousin. Penny’s the femme fatale, the vixen. And the vixen does not go around dousing the guests with fruit punch mix at children’s parties.
Walker turns around slowly, a lethal glint in his eyes. “Did you just…?”
Penny snaps out of her shock. She plants a fist on her hip. “Maybe I did…” she challenges.
Walker narrows his gaze on her. He snatches a lettuce leaf from my salad bar.
“Hey!” I protest. But he’s too busy flinging it at Penny to pay me any mind. It lands in her cleavage.
She gasps in horror as she picks the soggy leaf from her boobs with her perfect French manicure. She throbs with offended energy. But, I see the grin twitching the corners of her mouth.
And is it just me or is the
